Sash gate



J. J. E. MESNAGER sept. 1, 1953 SASH GATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 10, 1948 INVENTOR: Ja ues Jean Emile Attorng).

J. J. E. MESNAGER sept. 1, 1953- SASH GATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March l0, 1948 y L u A INVENTOR: Jac es Jean Emile )(Znager. by. mw'

Attnrnky.

Patented Sept. -1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 10, 1948, Serial No. 14,039 In France March 12, 1947 Claims.

It was disclosed that, in order to easily move the operating mechanism of sash gates, it might be used fluid-sheet rest elements interposed between the gates and their rest surface, the rollers and slide bars generally used being thus replaced by fluid sheets under pressure; with such a device, there are no more important frictions encountered as with an ordinary device, whenever the gate is operated.

The main difficulties that are encountered in the design of fluid-sheet rest sliding apparatus are as follows:

1. Permitting the movable system to incline according to variations of the pressure exerted upon the different parts thereof.

2. Providing for apermanent fluid-tight joint between the rest surface and the movable system in the course of the displacement in spite of the unavoidable inequalities and warp of the rest surface, which is liable to be deformed just the same as the movable system by the action of the forces to which they are subjected. This results in variations in the distance between the movable system and the rest plate which are hardly consistent with a correct functioning of the flexible joint.

The present invention has for its object an improved fluid-sheet rest device with which both main aforementioned inconveniences are removed by the provision, between the rest surface and the movable system, of an intermediate element or frame that carries the sealing member and which is movable with respect to the movable system. Preferably, said frame should possess a certain flexibility. It Will thereby be capable of laying itself against the rest surface and of conforming its shape in spite of the inequalities and deformations of the latter, the purpose of the sealing member being merely to offset small local inequalities.

Said intermediate frame is connected with the movable system through the medium of a flexible membrane such as a sheet-metal bellows, a reinforced elastic fabric, a leather sleeve, etc., so as to provide a receptacle containing the liquid under pressure.

In order to keep the thickness of the fluid sheet unchanged in spite of any leakage that may occur notably at the edges, it is necessary to feed said sheet with the aid'of a compressor which may be stationary or carried by the movable system.

The admission of the fluid is controlled by one or several valves in dependence on the distance between the movable system to the fixed rest. The interposition of fluid-operated jacks de- 2 signed for large variations in the said distance makes the achievement of this arrangement particularly easy, said hydraulic jacks being constituted by the uid sheets themselves.

Where the stroke of the movable system exceeds its length the fluid may be fed through a series of fixed nozzles provided each with a valve controlled in the aforesaid manner and adapted to close automatically as soon as the nozzle is no longer covered.

The improvements according to the invention will be described hereinafter, reference being had to the appended drawings in which:

Figure l is a front view of a sash gate.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section of a fluid sheet element.

Figure 4 is a side view of said element, parts being broken away. i

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line V-V i in Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section of an alternative construction of the element.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a gate I is movable with respect to a stonework II) on which it is rested through the medium of a pair of fluid sheets 2 and a pair of rollers 3, one of them at either side of the gate. Rollers 4 rested on a frame 5 are provided to compensate for the tendency of the gate to tilt when the forebay is empty. The gate is operated with the aid of a flexible ribbon 6 trained over a pulley 1 the shell 8 of which is secured to the upper end of the gate I. The flexible ribbon 6 may be trained over a simple smooth driving drum.

The gate I carries a frame II rigid therewith and connected with a further frame I2 through the medium of a ring-shaped flexible membrane I3. Said membrane is pressed against the frame II by a clamping frame 2| pressed thereon by screws I4. Similarly, the membrane I3 is pressed against the frame I2 by a clamping frame 22 pressed thereon by screws I5. The same clamping frame 22 serves to secure a ring shaped resilient, e. g. rubber pad I6 against the frame I2 to seal the joint between a smooth rest surface I 1 and the inside of the element. Said pad I6 is pressed against the rest surface I'I by the pressure exerted by the fluid upon the side I6 of the same.

The frames II and I2 are constituted by the edges of plates 3I and 32 interconnected by a flexible plate I8 secured thereto by means of bolts I9, 20, by which flexible plate the frame I2 is enabled to move with the frame I I without hina dering the displacement of either of said frames towards or away from the other. Plate 32 carries girders 23 adapted to take a rest on the surface i1 whenever the inner pressure of the fluid sheet becomes abnormally low (as shown in the upper portion of Fig. 3). Apertures 33 through plate 32 permit the fluid to flow from one side to the other of plate 32. A tight space of variable volume and shape comprising tworooms in communication through the apertures 33 is thus provided between the stonework IIJ and the gate I, on either side of frame I2 and plate 32. The side-wall of one of these rooms is constituted by the ring-shaped membrane I3, the side-wall of the other room is constituted bythe ring-shaped pad i6.

Preferably, the frames Ii and I2 as well as the presser frames ZI and 22 have round upper and lower ends (Fig. In this manner the *flexible membrane I3 is able to surround said frames while assuming a cylindrical shape at either vertical side of said frames and a toric shape at .the top and bottom edges of the same.

The flexible membrane I3 Vis constituted by an elastic rubber, buna or like membrane or simply by a flexible impervious membrane and may be reinforced with wires in the planes at right angles to the gate.

The flexible membrane may have a Z-like section as shown in Fig. 4 or be plane as in thedevice illustrated in Fig. 6; inthe latter case the frame 3d of gate I and the-intermediate frame 35 connected with samethrough membrane 36 secured between the shaped members 31 and 39-provide a resilient cushion filled with a fluid. The frame 35 andthe plate 32 rigid therewith are rested here on the rest surface I1 through pads 40.

rl'he pressure on'the liquid present inthe iiuid sheet is kept by a compressor at such a value that the thickness of the said sheetshall remain substantially constant. This result is obtained automatically by means of aspring-valve 24 adapted to open or close the pipe 25 leading from theV compressor to an orifice 26 in the rest surface I1 and the shank 21 of'which engages an angle iron 38 rigid with the `frame I I and the gate.

As the frame I I moves towards the rest surface I1 the shank 21 is pushed by the angle iron 38 on which its end is rested; the spring-valve 24 is thus lifted and the pressure in the fluid sheet is increased until the frame stands at the desired distance from the rest surface. i Conversely, as thev frame II moves away from the rest-surface, the valve 24 comes lagain into engagement with its seat.

It should be understood that the embodiments described hereinbefore and illustrated in the appended drawing'aregivenfor the-purpose of exemplicationand by no means of limitation and that many modifications may be made with- -out thereby departing from-'the scope of the inventionf. For example, the restsurface may be on the gate and the intermediate plate so as the membrane may be attached to the immovable work along which the movable' system is shifted. The arrangements described `may also be used for other purposes than the translation of water gates; thus, for exampleA a plurality of fluid elements may be used for theY launching of a ship down its ways.

'What l claim as my invention and desire to secure by-Letters Patent is:

l. A water gate comprising an immovable work having a smooth surface, amovable gate mounted on said work for shifting motion parallel with shaped line with the smooth surface of the work,

fa :tight space of variable volume and shape havving said ring-shaped membrane and pad for their l5 side-walls being thus provided between said work 1 yand said movable gate, means for admitting a fluid intosaid tight space and for keeping said fluid under pressure in said tight space, whereby 'providing' for the movable gate a resilient fluidcontaining hollow support attached thereto and having-a sliding resting contact with the smooth surface ofthe work, and means for sliding said movable gate and -said resilient support along said smoothsurface of said work.

2. A water gate comprising an immovable work having a smooth surface, a movable gate mounted on said work for shifting motion parallel with said surface, a ring-shaped `deformable membrane tightly attached to the movable gate in front of the smooth surface of the work, a frame attached to said ring-shaped 'membrane all around the same between the movable gate and the smooth surface of the work in a position nearly parallel with said surface, a' ring-shaped resilient pad attached to the frame all around the same and having a tight connection with said deformable membrane, said ring-shaped pad having a sliding and tight contact along a ringshaped line with the smoothsurface of the work, a tight space of variable volume and shape having said ring-shapedmembrane and pad for their side-walls being thus provided between said work and said movable gate, means for admitting a uid into said tight space and for keeping said fluid under pressure in said tight space, whereby providing for the movable gate a resilient uidcontaining hollow support attached thereto and `having a sliding resting contact with the smooth surface of the work, means for sliding said mov- -able gate and said resilient support along said smooth surface of said work, ra rest member on said movable gate, adapted for entering into resting Contact with the frame whenever the distance between the movable gate and the frame decreases down to a predetermined value, and arest member rm with said frame and adapted for `enteringinto resting contact with the work whenever the distance between the frame and the workdecreases down to a predetermined value.

3. A water gate comprising an immovable work having a smooth surface, a-movable gate mounted on said work for shifting motion parallel with saidv surface, a ring-shaped deformable membrane tightly attached to the movable gate in front of the smooth surface of the work, a frame attached to said ring-shaped membrane all around the same between the movable gate and the smooth surface of the work in a position nearly parallel with said surface, a ring-shaped resilient pad attached to the vframe all around the same and having a tight connection with said deformable membrane, said ring-shaped pad havingv a sliding and tight contact along afringshaped line with the smoothzsurface of the work,

a tight space of variable volume and shape having said ring-shaped membrane and pad for their sidefwalls being thus provided between said work and said movable gate, means for admitting a iiuid into said tight space and for keeping said fluid under pressure in said tight space, whereby providing for the movable gate a resilient fluidcontaining hollow support attached thereto and having a sliding resting contact with the smooth surface of the work, self-operating means for cutting the admission of fiuid into said tight space whenever the distance between the movable gate and the smooth surface of the work comes to exceed a predetermined value, and means for sliding said movable gate and said resilient support along said smooth surface of said work.

4. A resilient support for providing a sliding resting contact between a first heavy mass and a second heavy mass having a smooth surface and capable of relative shifting motion parallel with said smooth surface with regard to the first heavy mass, said support comprising a frame located between both heavy masses in front of the smooth surface of the second heavy mass and in a position nearly parallel with said smooth surface, a ringshaped deformable membrance attached to said frame all around the same and having a tight connection with said first heavy mass along a ring-shaped line located in front of said frame, a ring-shaped resilient pad attached to the frame all around the same and having a tight connection with said deformable membrane, said ring-shaped pad having a sliding and tight contact along a ring-shaped line with the smooth surface of the second heavy mass, a tight space of variable volume and shape having for side-Walls said ring-adapted membrane and pad being thus provided between both heavy masses and means for admitting a fluid into said tight space and for keeping said fiuid under pressure in said space, whereby providing for the first heavy mass a resilient fiuid-containing hollow support attached thereto and having a sliding resting contact with the smooth surface of the second heavy mass.

5. A resilient support for providing a sliding resting contact between a first heavy mass and a second heavy mass having a smooth surface and capable of relative shifting motion parallel with said smooth surface with regard to the first heavy mass, said support comprising a frame located between both heavy masses in front of the smooth surface of the second heavy mass and, in a position nearly parallel with said smooth surface, a ring-shaped deformable membrane attached to said frame all around the same and having a tight connection with said first heavy mass along a ring-shaped line located in front of said frame, a ring-shaped resilient pad attached to the frame all around the same and having a tight connection with said deformable membrane, said ring-shaped pad having a sliding and tight Contact along a ring-shaped line with the smooth surface of the second heavy mass, a tight space of variable volume and shape having for side-walls said ring-shaped membrane and pad being thus provided between both heavy masses, means for admitting a fluid into said tight space and for keeping said fluid under pressure in said space, whereby providing for the rst heavy mass a resilient fluid-containing hollow support attached thereto and having a sliding resting contact with the smooth surface of the second heavy mass, a rest member on said first heavy mass, adapted for entering into resting contact with the frame whenever the distance between said first heavy mass and said frame decreases down to a predetermined value, and a rest member firm with said frame and adapted for entering into resting contact with the second heavy mass whenever the distance between said second heavy mass and said frame decreases down to a predetermined value.

6. A water gate comprising an immovable work having a smooth surface, a movable gate mounted on said work for shifting motion parallel with said surface, a plate having a flexible connection with said movable gate and located between said movable gate and said work, in front of the smooth surface of the work and in a position nearly parallel therewith, said plate being provided with apertures, a ring-shaped deformable membrane having a tight connection with said plate all around the edge thereof and with the movable gate along a ring-shaped line in front of said plate, providing thus a first room of variable volume between said plate, said gate and said membrane, a ring-shaped resilient pad having a tight connection with said plate along a ring-shaped line and having a sliding and tight contact along a ring-shaped line with the smooth surface of the work, a second room of variable volume in communication with the first said room through the apertures of the plate being thus provided between said work, said plate and said pad, means for admitting a fiuid into said communicating rooms and for keeping said fluid under pressure in said rooms, whereby providing for the movable gate a resilient fluid-containing hollow support attached thereto and having a sliding resting contact with the smooth surface of the work, and means for sliding said movable gate and said resilient support along said smooth surface of said work.

7. A water gate comprising an immovable work having a smooth surface, a movable gate mounted on said work for shifting motion parallel with said surface, a plate having a flexible connection with said movable gate and located between said movable gate and said worky in front of the smooth surface of the work and in a. position nearly parallel therewith, said plate being provided with apertures, a ring-shaped deformable membrane having a tight connection with said plate all around the edge thereof and with the movable gate along a ring-shaped line in front of said plate, providing thus a first room of variable volume between said plate, said gate and said membrane, a ring-shaped resilient pad having a tight connection with said plate along a ringshaped line and having a sliding and tight contact along a ring-shaped line with the smooth surface of the work, a second room of variable volume in communication with the first said room through the apertures of the plate being thus provided between said work, said plate and said pad, means for admitting a fluid into said communicating rooms and for keeping said fluid under pressure in said rooms, whereby providing for the movable gate a resilient fluid-containing hollow support attached thereto and having a sliding resting contact with the smooth surface of the work, means for sliding said movable gate and said resilient support along said smooth surface of said work, a rest-member on said movable gate adapted for entering into resting contact with the plate whenever the distance between said plate and said movable gate decreases down to a predetermined value, and a rest-member on 7 said -zplate ia'dapted for entering into resting contactv withfthe'iworky whenever the distance -betweenisaidwork and said plate decreases Adown to a predetermined value.

8. A Watergate comprising an immovable work having a smooth Surface, a movable gate mounted onasaid work for shifting motion parallel with saidfsurface, a plate having .a'flexible connection with said movable gate: and located between said movable gate and saidwork, in front of the smooth surfacev of the work and in a position nearly parallel therewith, said plate being provided-with apertures, a ring-shaped deformable membrane havinga tight connection withsaid plate all'around the edge thereof and with the* movable gate along a ringeshaped line in front of said plate, providing thus a first room of variable volume betweensaid plate, saidv gateand said membrane, ai'ingeshaped resilient pad having a: tight .connection with said plate along a ringeshaped line and having a sliding and tight contact along a ring-shaped line with the smooth surface of the work, a Vsecond room of variable volume'in communication with the first said room through the apertures of the plate being thus provided between said work, said plate and said pad, a. duct in the fixed work, disemboguing through the smooth surface thereof withiny the ringeshaped-contact line of the resilient pad, thereby adapted for admitting a fluid into said second room as also into the first room through the apertures of the plate, means for keeping said uid under pressure in said rooms, whereby providing for the movable gate a resilient fiuidcontaining hollow supportattached thereto and havinga sliding resting contact-with the smooth surface of ,the work, 4and means for sliding said gate and said resilient support along said smooth surface of said Work.

9. A resilient support for providing a sliding resting contact between a rst heavymass and a second heavy mass having a smooth surface and capable of relative shifting motion parallelwith said smooth surface with regard to the first heavymassysaid support comprising a Vdeformable Yconnecting-member attached to the first mass yinfirontof the second mass, a plate attached to said connecting-member and located between both-heavy masses in front of the smooth surface of the second heavy mass and in a position nearly parallel with said smooth surface; a'ring-shaped deformable membrane having a tight connection with said plate along a'ring-shaped line, andwith the first heavy mass along string-shaped line located in front of said plate, providing thus a first room of variable volume between said first heavy mass said plate and said membrane, a ring-shaped resilient pad having a tight connectionvwith said'plate` along a ring-shaped line,

said 'ring-shaped pad,` having' a sliding v and `tight contactalong a ring-shaped line with the smooth surface of the second heavymass, providing thus a second room of variable volume between said second heavy mass, said plate` and said pad, and meansforv admitting a fluid into both said rooms andvforkeepingisaid. fluid under pressure in'said rooms, whereby providing for the first heavy mass a resilient fluid-containing hollow support attached thereto and having a sliding restingcontact -with the smooth surface of the second heavy mass.

l0. Aresilient 4support for providing a sliding resting contact between a first heavy mass and a second 'heavyl mass havingy a smooth surface and capable of relative shifting motion parallel with said smooth surface with regard to the first heavy mass, said support comprising a deformableconnecting-member .attached to the first ymass in front of the second mass, a plate attached to said connecting-member `and located between both heavy masses infront of the smooth surface of thel second heavymass and in aposition nearly parallel -withsaid Vsmooth surface, a ring-shaped deformable membranev having a tight connection withsaidplate along a ring-shaped line, and with the first vheavy ,mass along a .ring-shaped line located incfront of said. plate, providing thus a iirst roornof variable volume between said first heavy mass, said plate and said membrane, a ring-shaped resilient `pad havinga tightconnection with said plate along aring.-shaped line, said ring-shaped `pad having a sliding and tight contact along a ring-shaped line k,with the smooth surface of the second heavy mass, providing thus a second .room of. variable volume between said second heavy. mass, said plate and said pad, means for admittinga. fluid into bothsaid` rooms and for keeping said fluid under pressure inv said rooms, whereby providing for therst heavy mass awresilientfluid-containing hollow support attached thereto 'and having a sliding resting contact with thesmoothsurface ofthe second .heavy mass, :av` rest member on -said first heavy mass adapted for enteringy into resting contact with the plate whenevergthe distance betweensaid plate and saidfirst heavy-mass decreases down to a predetermined value, and a rest member onthe plate, adaptedfor entering into resting contact with thesecond heavy mass wheneverthe distance betweensaid second heavy mass and'said platedecreases down to .a predetermined Value.

JACQUES JEAN EMILE MESNAGER.

Country Date Switzerland 0f 1931 Number 

